Yearly Archives: 2009

Lost and abandoned blue crab traps pose a problem in Florida’s commercial and recreational fishing industries by continuing to trap fish and crustaceans. Traps can also pose a marine hazard. Efforts to clean them up are receiving a major boost in 2009, due to a new rule approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation…

Florida accounts for one-fourth of the nation’s recreational boating activity and the number of boaters plying coastal waterways has increased at a rate that eclipses overall population growth. As demand for access to and use of waterways increases, so does the need for enhanced environmental protection and increased public safety and education. However, information available…

The historical analysis provides cartographic evidence of predevelopment conditions and traces waterway development over the last century. This evaluation of change serves as a fundamental guide to coastal communities in formulating management policies and programs. Two examples of benefits provided by the analysis include the documentation of dredging history for residential waterways, access channels and…

A NOAA Pilot Project in the St. Johns River Watershed What is the Coastal Storms Initiative (CSI)? The Coastal Storms Initiative is a nationwide effort to lessen the impacts of storms on coastal communities. Federal, state and local organizations are cooperating in this first pilot project on the St. Johns River watershed in Northeastern Florida.…

The exciting discoveries of modern biotechnology are an extension of practices that are thousands of years old — such as using yeast in bread making, fermentation in wine and beer production, and even domestication of animals. Today, biotechnology is a term used to describe a broad range of technologies that modify living things for human…

Florida Sea Grant Earns Top Evaluation in National Review Over a four-year period, the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) evaluates each of the 31 Sea Grant programs through use of an external Program Assessment Team (PAT). About one-fourth of the programs are evaluated each year. This review is used by the NSGO in its overall…

The spectacularly beautiful lionfish with its undulating venomous spines is quite the sight to see, but its invasion of Caribbean coral reefs may pose a very serious threat. For the past five years or so, I have been reading about the population explosion of lionfish in the Caribbean. However, the magnitude of the problem did…

Hurricanes are, by many measures, the most devastating of all catastrophic natural hazards affecting the U.S. In economic terms alone, the average annual loss of $1.3 billion recorded pre-1990 (in constant 2006 dollars) has spiraled to $35.8 billion post-2000. A first-of-its-kind wind machine at Florida International University, dubbed the Wall of Wind, is now enabling…

Many shark populations throughout the world face continued, massive declines. These are driven largely by the popularity of shark fin soup, which has created a highly lucrative but unsustainable market for shark fins. Shark conservation in the U.S. and worldwide to counter these declines requires comprehensive management and trade monitoring. However, this has not been…

Recreational boating is a primary way residents and tourists use Florida’s estuarine resources. The state has more than 1 million registered recreational boats, an average of about 1 boat for every 17 residents. As recreational boating soars in popularity, so does the pressure on Florida’s coastal communities for public infrastructure, increased boater access, and more…